Vehicle-axle.



No. 797,322. .PATENTED AUG. l5, 1905. S. H. RGBESON.

VEHIGLE AELE.

APPLIGATION FILED AUG. so, 1904. Mmmm um 31. mos.

Lam! l! STATES PATENT EEIE.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed August 30, 1904-. Renewed May 3l, 1905. Serial No.263,158.

T0 all 'wl/,0111, it ni/(ty coli/cern:

to match the screw-threads @L oli' said enlarge Be it known that l,SAMUEL H. RonnsoN, a ment, upon which it is adjustable, to adinitofcitizen oi' the United States, residing at Henderson, in the county ofChester and State of rlennessee, have invented certain new and usefullmprovements in Vehicle-Axles, ot' which the following is aspecilication.

This invention relates to axles designed chiefly for coperation withvehicle-wheels, the purpose being to provide novel means for taking upwear between the spindle and hub and yet admit of tightening theaxle-nut by means of `a wrench or spanner in the accustomed manner,cone-bearings being provided for the wheel and dust-excluding meansemployed to prevent grinding of the bearings.

Eer a full description oi. lthe invention and the merits thereorl andalso to acquire a knowledge ofthe details ol' construction of the meansfor effecting the resultreference is to be had to the followingdescription and drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention aresusceptible of modification, still the preferred embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure1 is a longitudinal section of a hub, axle-skein, and adjunctive parts,showing the axle-arm or spindle in full embodying' the invention. Fig. 2is a detail perspective view ot' the axle-arm and coperating partsseparated and arranged in a group.

Corresponding and like parts are indicated by the same referencecharacters in both views oll the drawings.

'lhe axle is indicated at 1, and its arm or spindle at 2. An enlargement3 is formed with the axle at a point between it and the spindle 2 and isthreaded, as shown at 4, and provided with a cone, as shown at 5. Theouter end of the axle-arm or spindle is reduced and threaded, asindicated at 6, and is adapted to receive the axle-nut 7, a series ofwashers 8, and a jam-nut 9, said parts 8 and 9 constituting, in effect,sections of the spindle or axle-arm to admit or' its lengthening orshortening to effect proper spacing' ot' the cones 5 and l0, the latterbeing at the inner end of the axle-nut 7. The washers 8 are of differentthicknesses to provide for proper spacing ol. the cones 5 and 10 toadapt them to the distances apart of the flaring recesses 11 and 12 atopposite ends of the axle-box 13 or hub, as the case may be. A sleeve 14is provided. for the enlargement 3 and is internally threaded a snugjoint being maintained between the hub and axle, so as to exclude dustand foreign matter lirom the inner cone-bearing. '.lhe sleeve 14 issecured in the adjusted position by any suitable means, and, as shown, asetscrew 15 is provided and threaded into an opening' formed in a sideof the sleeve, the inner end ot' said set-screw being adapted to bindupon the threads 4.

The axle-box 13 or eye of the hub `is enlarged at opposite ends, asshown at 1l and 12, t0 receive the cone-bearings 5 and 10, theintermediate portion being spaced from the axle-arm or spindle. Theaxle-nut 7 is provided at its inner end with the cone 10 andintermediate or' its ends with an outer llange 16, which is channeledupon its inner face to receive a washer 17. The axle-nut is adapted toscrew upon the threaded extension 6 oi the axle-arm and is limited inits inner movement by coming in contact with the jam-nut or section 9.This occurs when the cones 5 and 10 are spaced apart a distancecorresponding vapproximately to the distance between the recesses l1 and12, the adjustment being such as t0 prevent binding of the bearings andyet admit oi the wheel turning freely without any lost motion orplay.The adjustment is determined by test, and should the wheel have too muchplay upon the spindle after the axlenut has been screwed home it isnecessary to either substitute a thinner washer :for one of the parts orsections or to remove a washer. On the other hand, should the bearingsbind either before or after the axle-nut is screwed home it is necessaryeither to add a washer 8 or to replace one ot` said washers by a thickersection. This interchange of washers or sec tions results practically inlengthening or shortening' the axle-arm or spindle, as will be readilycomprehended.

ln the preferable construction the cone 5 is an integral part of theaxle and spindle. A washer 18 corresponding to the washer 17 is insertedin an enlargement at one end of the sleeve 14 adjacent to the hub, so asto insure the formation of a tight joint, which is essential for theexclusion oi' dust from the bearings.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is* 1ncombination, an axle provided with a spindle having' a threadedextension at its outer end and an integral enlargement at a pointbetween the spindle and axle, said enlargement having a portion threadedand its outer end tapered to form a cone, a sleeve mounted upon thethreaded portion of said enlargement, means for securing said sleeve inan adjusted position, a series of washers varying in thickness slippedupon said threaded extension, a jam-nut for ooniining said washers, saidjam-nut and washers forming Van adjustable extension of the axle-arm toadmit of its lengthening or shortening, a hub slipped upon the axle-armand having its Y opening outwardly fiared at opposite ends, the

inner end of the hub being received by the p sleeve above mentioned, anaxle-nut mounted

